At 123 years old, New Klein Lumber remains one of Iola’s legacy businesses.
Built by Paul Klein in 1903 — at a time when indoor electric and plumbing systems were still generations away from becoming reality — the lumberyard became entrenched with Iola’s growth.
Owners Bill and Steve Eisenbart chuckle at the notion of driving around town, realizing just how many homes and businesses were built with materials from the modest lumberyard, still at its original location a block west of Iola’s downtown square.
Now, a new ownership change ensures that legacy will remain for another generation or so.
Steve’s daughter, Nicole Joy, and her husband, Kyle, are taking over the lumberyard this summer.
“We wanted to keep it in the family, and we thought this was the appropriate time to do that,” said Bill, who officially retired on July 1.
Steve, meanwhile, has reduced his workload to three days a week, leaving the business in the hands of Kyle, who has worked at the lumberyard for the past nine years, and Nicole, who joined as bookkeeper a year and a half ago.
Customers should expect little if any change, in large part because the Joys will strive to keep the same philosophy as her father and uncle — happy customers are repeat customers.
“Without them, we’re just sitting out here by ourselves,” Kyle said. “It’s a mix of both nervous and exciting. I mean, this is the American dream, to run a business, and take care of our customers.”
THE LUMBERYARD’S history is told through two families.
Klein ran the lumberyard through the first half of the 20th Century. He was still in his 80s when he passed ownership in 1960 to his grandson, Klein Boyd, who had come to work for his grandfather after World War II.
That was also about the time Norb Eisenbart — Steve and Bill’s father — came to work at the lumberyard.
Boyd managed the business until he died in a fishing accident in 1981, and ownership went to his wife, Mary.
Mary ran the lumberyard until 1989, when she sold the business to Norb Eisenbart.
(Trivia note: that’s also when Norb added the “New” to the “Klein Lumber” title.)
BY THE TIME Norb took over, his son, Bill, had already established himself as a successful carpenter by working part-time at the lumberyard after Boyd died.
